For Class: Highly recommended.
The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA by James D Watson
Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life by Marcus Wholsen

For Reference or Related Reading:
DNA: The Secret of Life by James D Watson
Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code by Matt Ridley
From Genes to Genomes: Concepts and Applications of DNA Technology by Jeremy W. Dale and Malcolm von Schantz (reference only)
Introduction to Genetic Analysis by Carroll, Doebley, Griffiths, and Wessler (reference only)
Protein Structure and Function by Petsko and Ringe (reference only)
The Global Genome: Biotechnology, Politics, and Culture by Eugene Thacker
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters by Matt Ridley
An Entirely Synthetic Fish by Anders Halverson
Other online reference and tutorials